TV/Radio notebook: UT tries to clear air on network

NCAA wants to be sure plans to telecast UIL games don't give edge in recruiting

DAVID BARRON, Copyright 2011 Houston Chronicle

Published 5:30 am, Friday, July 15, 2011

Photo: Brett Coomer, Chronicle

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DeLoss Dodds said the UT athletic department will not be involved with selecting high school games on the Longhorn Network.

DeLoss Dodds said the UT athletic department will not be involved with selecting high school games on the Longhorn Network.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Chronicle

TV/Radio notebook: UT tries to clear air on network

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Officials with the NCAA and the University of Texas say the parties are discussing an issue that has consumed non-Texas fans: whether the ESPN-owned network can air high school games without providing Texas an unfair recruiting advantage.

NCAA spokesman Erik Christianson said in an email that the NCAA is "engaged in a conversation with the entities to better understand their plans and what bylaws come into play."

Texas is complying with the NCAA's request, athletic director DeLoss Dodds said Thursday. ESPN said it "will not do anything on Longhorn Network that would compromise the University of Texas from a compliance perspective."

At issue, potentially, are three elements of Title 13, Section 10 of the NCAA rulebook, which, among other things, prohibits colleges from arranging radio or TV appearances for prospective student-athletes and prohibits schools from allowing prospects on shows conducted by coaches or shows in which coaches are participating.

Dodds said the Texas athletic department will not be involved with selecting high school games on LHN. He said the university "intends to be safe and ESPN to be safe when it comes to NCAA issues."

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"ESPN will select the games based on what they feel is best," Dodds said. "We understand that this is a new world and that we're leading the way in an area that is new to us and new to the NCAA and new to ESPN. Like everything else, we will do it in a first-class way, in the light of day, and we will do it the right way."

ESPN will deal with individual school districts, since the University Interscholastic League's only TV contract is with Fox Sports Net to air championship games, in scheduling games. The UIL rule prohibiting live TV game broadcasts on Friday nights also will apply to the Longhorn Network.

As for the other recent development on the LHN front, the addition of a Big 12 conference game that will air along with the Sept. 3 season opener against Rice, Dodds said the game will be selected in consultation with the Big 12 and commissioner Dan Beebe.

"We are in favor of the conference being a large part of that decision," he said. "Anything we do on that will be conducted in the light of day."

ESPN can use the second game as a carrot to gain cable and satellite carriage for Longhorn Network. Fox Sports, in return, at some point will be able to show a Big 12 game on its over-the-air stations, including KRIV (Channel 26), that it otherwise would be prohibited from showing because of the Big 12's exclusive over-the-air deal with ABC.

“I think Yao Ming is a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” O’Neal said. “He was a great player. He was a dominant player. If he wasn’t injury-plagued the last three years, he would have put up more numbers. He’s always been a class act. I’m glad to call him my friend.”

Dubbed by Smith as “The Big Analytical,” O’Neal brings another huge personality to Inside the NBA. Turner Sports executive David Levy, however, says TNT won’t have to pump in extra air to ensure everyone is heard.

“We’ve always had four people sitting up there, and I think there will be enough to go around for everybody,” Levy said. “Shaquille’s insight will only enhance the overall show.”

Four DVRs, no waiting

Slight format change: Rather than posting an extended version of this notebook each Friday at chron.com, everything that doesn't make it into print now will be included on the Four DVRs, No Waiting blog site. …

Longtime Houston radio executive Pat Fant, who was selected this week to the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, is best known for his association with KLOL (101.1 FM) and KTBZ (94.5 FM), but he also was the first general manager of ESPN Radio affiliate KFNC (97.5 FM).

Fant is involved now in Internet radio projects, including deals with the Houston ISD and Spec's and his most recent venture — a partnership with ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons to launch Radio PuraVida.mx. …

Speaking of KFNC, it held on to a narrow lead in morning drive over KILT (610 AM) among the four all-sports stations in the June Arbitrons for men 25-54. KBME (790 AM) led the sports stations at midday, and KILT and KBME tied in audience share in afternoon drive. …

KGOW (1560 AM) next week launches a 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday show featuring Chronicle columnists Richard Justice and Ken Hoffman. "We'll start with one day, ease into it and see where it takes us," program director Craig Larson said.